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Tiger Woods is one shot off the lead at the Valspar Championship going into the final day and threatening to turn the wonder of his resurgence into downright disbelief. And, of course, into frenzied favouritism for the forthcoming Masters.

Of all his 106 wins, only the 14 majors would hold more pride of place if Woods manages to get this job done on Sunday – and even the majority of those would probably feel obliged to take a back seat.

The 42 year-old – who just 10 months ago underwent a spinal fusion which was make-or-break on him living in agony, never mind being a successful pro-golfer – shot a four-under 67 in Tampa Bay to stand on eight-under and just one behind the Canadian Corey Conners.

Alongside Woods is Justin Rose, but the Englishman will be the first to admit that the concentration will be fixed elsewhere during this memorable final round.

Because it is not just Woods’s name high up on the leaderboard which is flashing the game back to yesteryear, but the manner in which he is posting these birdies and pars. His short game is like a priceless museum piece brought back to life.

The crowd cheers a Tiger Woods birdieCredit:
GETTY IMAGES

The up-and-downs for par are as spectacular as the birdies from off the green (as he showed when chipping in on the ninth) and the tee shots to 18 inches (which he enacted on the 201-yard 17th).

No, this has not been merely a brief reminder of his transcendent qualities, but almost a showreel.

This was his lowest round of 2018 and his first back-to-back sub-70 rounds since the Wyndham Championship in 2015, his last top 10.

In truth, he is in far, far better shape than then – technically, physically and mentally. At this rate he is going to head into Augusta in three weeks’ time as a worthy but utterly ridiculous front-runner to don a fifth Green Jacket and resume his major trail which seemed frozen on 14.

The first question is, can he convert this extraordinary display into his first title in five years?

Woods was only ever going to give one answer to that question, despite having remained so untypically reserved in his predictions since he properly resumed his career four tournaments ago. “I’ve been in this position many times and won my share of events,” Woods said. “I just need to execute.”

So what a day in store at Innisbrook. Perhaps Brandt Snedeker – Woods’ playing partner who gets the chance as one of those on eight-under to play with the former world No 1 again – put it best: “If I can’t have fun again tomorrow, then I need to find another job.”